From the Central Island Arts Alliance to the Comox Valley Art Gallery
The Comox Valley Art Gallery was originally formed in 1974 by a group of artists, craftspeople and American draft resistors who came together to establish an arts organization that would connect them to the wider community and allow the arts to flourish in the Comox Valley. Originally named the Central Island Arts Alliance, this organization was founded as a community gallery that offered exhibitions, workshops, performance art, theatre and music. Affectionately nicknamed “The Joint”, the original Central Island Arts Alliance headquarters on McPhee avenue was a hub of creative energy and activity.
As it grew, the Central Island Arts Alliance began to host exhibitions from not only local artists, but international artists as well. In addition to the gallery space, there was a Craft Shop that hosted an array of handmade works by local artists.
Finding our Home
The Central Island Arts Alliance occupied several different locations around town, before settling in an old Pool Hall on 4th Street.
In 2005, the gallery was able to secure the former Fire Hall on Duncan Avenue to be its new site, and was renamed the Comox Valley Art Gallery.
Since then the gallery has evolved into a creative hub within the Comox Valley, housing a diverse range of convergent programming that is relevant to this ever changing community.
In 2018, the gallery initiated an important effort toward Truth and Reconciliation with the installation of Public Place : Sacred Space. This exhibition included the installation of three components on the gallery site: the Welcome Poles that were created by Karver Everson and Randy Frank, a public work by Kwakwa̱ka̱’wakw/K’ómoks artist Andy Everson called Crossroads and a Traditional Indigenous Garden planted by and with guidance from Traditional Knowledge Keeper, Elder Barb Whyte.
The gallery is committed to continuing to create meaningful convergent programming that speaks to a range of themes and issues, upholds and supports artists, and represents our community in all of its complexity.